I'm sitting here
contemplating my existence
bathed in the after glow
but no, don't just sit there and judge me
like you already know

'cause you don't know the half of what I've seen
the beauty and the pain that haunts my dreams
and every blade of grass that grows between
the cracks within my mind

here in the middle of the journey of my life
I find myself lost and alone
with just the courage of my conviction to lead me on

Here I stand
upon my good intentions
caught in the undertow
don't you stand in my way now
I've got a long way to go

'cause you don't know the half of what I've seen
the beauty and the pain that haunts my dreams
and every blade of grass that grows between
the cracks within my mind

2 - If I Didn't Know Any Better

if I didn't know any better
if I thought this world was going to end
I'd sit right down and write you a letter
my friend

and this is what I'd say to you...

there's no way I can face you
I never know what words to say
what I'm trying to tell you is that I'm sorry
before I'm blown away
but if the winds of change are kind to us
then I'll be back again some day

why should we worry about tomorrow
nothing on earth is guaranteed
but if someone's looking down upon us, then godspeed
and if there's not
then I hope you find the faith you need

I hope you find the strength you need

3 - Looking forward to dying alone

I'm looking forward to dying alone
in my plaid pajamas
and some green bananas
that I keep in a bowl in the hall
underneath the picture of you
that I drew on the day you were born

I'm throwing pebbles at the galaxy
I'll teach the milky way to mess with me
a black hole's opportunity
to stretch my bones and buy some time

I'm blowing bubbles in eternity
the universe in a cup of tea
and every bubble is a memory
in the space and time
inside my mind

I'm looking forward to dying alone
crying alone
and riding out this lonely life alone

4 – What are we gonna do Now

the longer I live
the more that I find
my life is a mystery
it's all ancient history
oh my god
what are we gonna do now
is it too late?
I think it might be

lets roll the dice
and see where they land
are we a creation
or an abomination
oh my god, what are we gonna do now
billions and billions
of lost little children
Oh my god, what are we gonna do now

will I ever get through to you?
what the hell did they did to you?
what are we gonna do now?
who do you think you are?...a shooting star?
well alright you are

5 - Nobody was Keeping Score but Me

When I said good bye to you
you were standing by a mountain pool
clouds of gray reflected in the tears within your eyes of blue

masquerading as a man named random
I met a river boat commander
we headed down those rapids
both believing that we were chasing something big

imperceptibly the river grew
wider and more dangerous

representing the epitome
of a hundred million years of evolution
when we stared into oblivion our boat split in two

before we knew it we were washed ashore
nearly dead our hearts and minds were intertwined
I didn't know which thoughts were his or which were mine

and a river of stars filled the sky
and I slipped into a reverie

where everything was changed except the lies that I believed were true
as the universe just kept expanding
I doubted everything but you

and as I tumbled down river
unprotected and unforgiven
with no one to confess my sins to
and only the wind and leaves to listen in

until finally in the valley below
I said hello and there you were

surround by a field of sun flowers swirling brilliant
like a billion constellations turning silent through millennia

and after an eternity I realized that I never woke up from that dream upon that shore
but nobody was keeping score but me
lonely me
nobody was keeping score but me

6 - You Can't Go Back In Time

when we are born
we are bound to all the senses of our mind

when we dissolve
back into nothingness
we might as well be blind

you can't go back in time
to change the rhythm of your own design

7 – Do you really wanna live...?

do you really wanna live for a thousand years
what if you could be immortalized
but no one you love was left alive
I wonder how would you survive that way

because we are blessed with a precious few
years upon this earth we're living on
with only time enough to sing one song
you can get it right or get it wrong
it's all the same

and who will save us from ourselves
there's nobody else
and all our gods have turned their backs on their creation
where will we turn for our salvation now...
it's in your hands
but the question still remains..

do you really wanna live for a thousand years?
just to see what every body's like
what are their Passions and their Appetites
will we humans finally get it right by then

Do you really wanna Live...?

8 – The Miracle of Space and Time

when you look out at the ocean
tell me, what does it mean
when you can see the curve of the earth
and the tides that ebb and flow like a dream

when you look up in the darkness of night
and the moon's high and Clear
and the light from the stars like a ghost from afar
that star it self has been dead a billion years

that's the miracle of space and time
and gravity will blow your mind
it's all particles and probabilities
but then there was you
you get to choose
what you believe

when you were born on that glorious morning
I gave you a name
and the heavens above
opened up with the love
and the universe has never been the same

Cause you're the miracle of space and time
gravity will blow your mind
day by day all the way to infinity
cause there's only one you
you get to choose
who you will be

when you were born...
… I gave you a name

9 - Famous last words

shine on – you'll still be shining when I'm
long gone
just remember that I love you
and my dreams will come true
in the end you'll have been
my ticket to heaven

now there's a place I don't belong in
I never was someone who needed
to believe in a place
where everyone goes
but no body knows where they are

but if I get to wish on a star
I'll wish with all of my heart
you'll take my love where ever you go
and all I ask in return

please make me a promise
you'll talk about me to my grand kids
you'll tell the story 'bout what I did
on the day you were born
and my love with shine on through you
you're my ticket to heaven

A Man Named Random
Clever lyrics, quality vocal work and understated, sympathetic arrangements. The whole project is very, very good, Michael. The scale of it is so impressive. Really liked the feel of "If I Didn't Know You Better" and the spacey lyrics of "Looking Forward To Dying Alone". Great phrasing on "Nobody Was Keeping Score But Me", too. "The Miracle of Space and Time" is brilliant. Beatles, Bowie and Dylan influences are sprinkled like twinkling seashells on this expansive shore. Time constricted whilst I was listening. Thanks for sharing this with us. Take care.

Impressive project...
...Many many levels of recording style, lyrical content, and an overall concept that is focused from the open calliope song to upbeat funeral procession. Imaginative ideas that are thoughtfully considered and performed.

Nice melodies
Great job on the vocals. Well thought out slow downs for the breaks into leads and other parts through out. Kind of reminisce a 1 side vinyl composition like Thick as a Brick or Close to the Edge. I don't think I could extend my self that far. Enjoyable listen.

A Man Named Random
This is brilliant on many levels. Lyrically, melodically, it doesn't get much better than this. It's been awhile since I've heard anything from you and this really inspired me to go back and listen to earlier comps. Great job!

Cool beats and singing
also enjoy the horns and how they accent the songs. Enjoy how you go from style to style and enjoy the Beatles feel to this as well. Love how this songs brings back cool styles that I enjoyed so much when I was so influenced by and still am!

Ambitious and Successful
Micheal you've taken on a major project here. It reminds me of the concept double albums out of the 70's. A powerful combination of musicality and wisdom. There's so much here, and it's all cohesive despite the variety. Well done in all aspects of writing and performance. It's epic in its subject matter and you haven't shied away from taking it all on and coming out with something profound to say in a most entertaining way. Kudos and thanks for the download!

The terms alternative rock and alternative music[1] were coined in the early 1980s to describe punk rock-inspired music genres which didn't fit into the mainstream genres of the time. At times it was used as catch-all phrase for rock music from under